Oil heating apparatus



Dec. 4, 1934. w HENRY OIL HEATING APPARATUS Original Filed May 6, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Mij E Dec. 4, 1934. w. HENRY 1,983,029

OIL HEATING APPARATUS original Filed May e. 1929 s sheets-sheet 2 Dec. 4, 1934. l. w. HENRY 1,983,029

OIL HEATING APPARATUS original Filed May s, 1929 3 sheets-sheet s Patented Dec. 4, 1934 1,983,029 OIL HEATING APPARATUS Ira' Walton Henry, Greenwich, Conn., assignor to Ionizing Corporation of America, New York, N. Y., a corporation ol' New York original application May s, 1929', serial No. 360,926. Divided and this application March 930, Serial No. 437,558. Renewed April 24 4 claims. (c1. zot-a1) also in communication with a pipe for discharg- This invention relates mainly `to improvements inoil heating apparatus.

This application is aldivision of my application Serial No. 360,926, led May 6, 1929, for Heat treatment of petroleum oil vapor and other hydrocarbonaceous starting material: method-and apparatus.

The main object of the invention is to improve present petroleum oil cracking operations by suddenly 1raising to a cracking temperature the oil vaporor gases, after they have been preliminarily obtained by heat treatment, and while they are at a relatively high temperature of approximately 500 or 600 F. and before such pre-heated, hot, gaseous vapor is led into a heat interchanger, such as a condenser or other ap- Y paratus for reception of the cracked vapor.

By my invention the gaseous vapor is given a -sudden increase in temperature while it is in its pre-heated condition and is owi'ng to auxiliary apparatus.

It is well known that final cracking must be accomplished within temperatures that will not cause the gaseous vapors to carbonize; and my present invention sulces for obtainment of nal and complete cracking without carbonization, and thus pertains to one of the most critical steps in the cycle of production of light hydrocarbons, such as gasoline for example. I have discovered that the desired result, without carbonization, is obtainable by giving the pre-heated, vapor or oil a sudden increase of approximately 200 F. or even higher temperature, a hotshock as it werejust before the vapor goes to a heat interchanger or the like; superheating the hot vapor to from between 500 or 600 Fahrenheit up to approximately 800 F. depending on th quality of the oil to be cracked.

My apparatus herein set forth is useful in other connections than above indicated, and I do not intend to limit my claims to its use only in the described manner but to claim it broadly for every use to which it can be put.

In the accompanying drawings forming a. part hereof and illustrating my present invention in different forms,-

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a cracking still providedwith exterior heating means and having a discharge pipe communicating with my new super-heater which discharges into a heat interchanger.

Fig. 2 is a lengthwise, central section and elevational view of one form of my new superheater embodying the invention, in communication with a pre-heated, hot gaseous vapor, supply pipe and ing the superheated vapor into a desired apparatus for subsequent treatment; the superheater including a conduit having an enlarged portion forming an expansion chamber.

Fig. 3 is a lengthwise central section Avan/.d elevational view of another form of the apparatus v illustrated in Fig. 1; but in this view the conduit and the expansion chamber are formed by an open-ended straight conduit.

In all the iigures, a pyrometer is shown as a member of the superheater, the pyrometer having a heat sensitive element exposed to the action of a high frequency, oscillating electromagnetic, hot iield, affectingapparatus and means for controlling the heat, the heat sensitive element of the pyrometer being inductively heated from the electromagnetic field.

Referring to the diilerent` forms of the invention illustrated in the drawings',-

In Fig. 1, B diagrammatically indicates anycf the usual type of apparatus in which petroleum oil is vaporized by application of external heat. For illustration, apparatus B may be supposed to be a still provided with either side or bottom heating devices, as at B'. In such appartusglong commonly used for crude oil vaporizing, a delivery pipe 2 leads to some kind of vapor treating apparatus such as B2 which may be either 90 a heat interchanger, condenser, expansion chamber, or otherwise. .Heretofore, the hot vapors flowing through the pipe 2 have deposited a carbon content on the walls of the pipe andA other walls with which they have come in contact, thus carbonizing the walls and also impairing the quality of the distilled product by the presence of excess carbon in the distillate. In my opinion, based on my experience and work done in this connection, 'the result of subjecting the preheated vapors to the'action of the high Irequency, oscillating, electromagnetic iield herein mentioned is to break up the carbon molecules in the. vapor into exceedingly small electried particles, and thus to involve ionization. At any rate, by my invention the deposit of carbon from the heated and cracked vapor inthe pipe is practically prevented and the carbon content of the vapor and distillate fixed in the distillate, the quality of the ultimate product, such as gasoline or thelike, being materially improved. By my.

invention, I give the hot, pre-heated vapor or vapors,I while owing from the'still, a sudden boost in temperature or hot shock as above described, and have discovered that by so doing carbonization of the pre-heated cracked oil vapors, during their discharge flow is, largely and `in some cases wholly, obviated. Indeed the sudden hot shock given to the hot vapor in its flow is a final and complete cracking step.

Fig. 2 shows a conduit A of electric current conducting material. Conduit A is tapped at 1 into the starting material or vapor supply pipe 2 and is extended into an elongated coil which terminates and discharges at 3 within an expan- 'sion chamber structure A of dielectric material, such as ceramic, pyrex or the like. sion chamber structure A is shown annular in cross section and is in effect across sectionally enlarged extension of conduit A. It has a closed end wall 4, preferably at its end nearest the takeoff, at-l, of the starting material; is of an interior cross section substantially larger than that of conduit A in order top'ermit expansion of the vapor discharged into the expansion chamber from the conduit A at 3. An end of the expansion chamber, preferably furthest from the discharge at 3, is open'and in communication with a discharge or delivery pipe 5 which conveys the superheated vapor to any desired apparatus, such as a heat interchanger, condenser or otherwise.

The interior circular wall of expansion chamber A' has a lining 6 of some suitable refractory material, such, for example, as asbestos. The purpose of lining 6 is to support the edges of each of, preferably a seriesof transverse, vapor-hauling and passing means''shown asmetal wire screensY through the interspaces of which the superheated vaporjmay flow. The peripheral margin of "such/screens is anchored in the asbestos or other lining, out of contact with the dielectric wall ofy the expansion chamber structure A', as shown at 8, in order to prevent unequal heating of the metal screen or otherA equivalent vapor bailiing and passing elements which also function as short circuited secondaries in the superheater, when the energizing current is on. A pyrometer having a heat sensitiveI element 9 is provided for the expansion chamber, and is located within theinfluence of a high frequency, oscillating electromagnetic fleld established by an energizing, alternating, high frequency, electric current within the expansion chamber, and within and exteriorly of the coiled portion of conduit A which is of copper or other suitable high frequency, alternating, electric current conducting material.

The pyrometer includes 'an exteriorly observable heatdegree indicator 10. The ends of expansion chamber structure A' are shown electrically insulated at 11 from the starting material supply Apipe 2 and also from the discharge and delivery pipe v5. The coiled portion of conduit A is electrically connected at 12'-12, spacedly apart, with the ends of high frequency alternating electric current conductors 13-13', each leading from a brush 14 of an alternating electric current dynamo 15. A condenser 16 is interposed in each conductor 13; and rheostat 16a is interposed in one of the conductors 13 in order to permit regulation ofthe heat induced in the short circuited secondaries, which form electric current resistances, from the electromagnetic rleld established in the expansionchamber when the current is on. The coiled portion of conduit A surrounds the expansion chamber structure A.

The 'expan-v The degree of heat generated in the expansion chamber, at any given moment, is determined electrically by regulation of the current, and is known instantly to an attendant by his observation of a corresponding pyrometer reading. This structure permits the apparatus to be used as a superheater or heat booster for giving preheated hydrocarbonaceous vapors, or other fluid starting material, supplied to conduit A from pipe 2 a sudden increase in temperature. The attendant can instantly raise or boost the temperature of the pre-heated starting material by regulation of the current, and by observation of the pyrometer reading give the material a sudden increase intemperature- The short circuited, secondary forming element forms an electric resistance in the e1ectromagnetic field and may be very highly heated, even to the meltingpoint if it were so desired; but in yuse the temperature eifected in the expansion chamber is to be varied, usually according to the quality and character of the starting material, as above stated, the preheated vapors received fromthe supply pipe being usually of a temperatureabout 200 F. lower than that suddenly given them in the'expansion chamber by regulated operation of theapparatus' which forms a ,superheater if it is so used as just de scribed. Y

As the dynamo and high frequency, alternating current generating, distributing and heat control apparatus above described are shown and identified by corresponding reference numerals in remaining figures of the drawings, no further detailed descriptio-n thereof will be given.

In Fig. 3, the expansion chamber structure A' differs from that above described in that both its ends are closed except for its intake port 17 and discharge port 18.

expand or vaporize therein ovvs out through discharge port 18 into the partially coiled conduit vA and is discharged therefrom at its discharge end 19; If desired, the starting material could be introduced into the expansion chamber through the discharge end 19, circulated through the coil, discharged expandingly into the expansion chamber, and ow out through the intake port 18, involving a reversal of the initial supply and ultimate discharge. In all otherrespects this form of the invention is like that set forth in connection with the Fig. 1 form.

In Fig. 4 there is no short circuited, secondary forming elements, the screens being omitted. The coiled portion of conduit A, however, is Within the expansion chamber andits convolutions serve as gaseous vapor baffling and passing means. The coiled portion of the copper conduit, oiferingv resistance to the high frequency, alternating current flowing through it and being in the high frequency, electromagnetic field which is generated when the energizing current is on, becomes highly` heated, and the starting material in the coil is subject to influence of this heat and of the high frequency oscillations of the electromagnetic field. In this form of the apparatus or superheater, the starting material is assumed to be taken into an outside portion lof conduit A, as at 20; to flow through the interior coiled portion of the conduit vand to. discharge at 21` into the expansion chamber from which the superheated' vapor treated flows out through a discharge or delivery pipe 22.

In Fig. 5, the superheater receives the preheated starting material from supply pipe 2;

Starting material sup` plied to the expansion chamber and allowed to such starting material expands therein; encounters the metallic, short circuted secondary forming and vapor-baffling and passing elements 7; and flows out expandingly into the discharge or delivery pipe 5. rIn Fig. 5, the coil A is inside the expansion chamber and does not, as in the other forms of the superheater above described,

serve as a conduit for flow of the starting material.

In practice, I employ a frequency of between and about 760 and 2,000 cycles per second as the particular character or quality of the hot, gaseous vapor to be superheated may require.

If desired, a catalyst may be located in the electromagnetic field. The screen '7, one or all may be catalytic metal.

Preferably the suddenly superheated and cracked vapor is suddenly chilled in the heat interchanger, and the apparatus shown is suitable for this important purpose and the constituents of the finished product are fixed and stabilized by the sudden changes in temperature, the hot temperatures being affected by induction from the hot, electromagnetic field.

I have found that gasoline cracked in a hot, high frequency oscillating electromagnetic field contains a hitherto undiscovered and unrecognized waxy substance which is negligible in quantity but which indicates a new effect of the hot electromagnetic field and the action thereof, Whatever it may be on the petroleum oil vapor treated.

'I'he structures of Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are best adapted for reception of vapor under pressure and the structure of Fig. 5 for reception of vapor not under pressure. In `the structure of Fig. 4, the high frequency, oscillating current in the turns of the coil re-acts on itself and heats the coil.

' What I claim is:

1. In oil heating apparatus, the combination with a walled expansion chamber, and apparatus for establishing a high frequency, oscillating, nonsparking, electro-magnetic eld within and at the outside of the expansion chamber Wall; of an electric current and oil vapor conducting coil having an oil vapor intake and, within said expansion chamber, an oil vapor discharge.

2. In oil heating apparatus, the combination with a walled expansion chamber, and apparatus for establishing a high frequency, oscillating, non-sparking, electro-magnetic field Within and at the outside of the expansion chamber Wall; of an electric current and oil vapor conducting coil having an oil vapor intake and, within said expansion chamber, an oil vapor discharge; and within the expansion chamber, a transverse, frequently apertured bafe, the edge of the baffle being insulatedly mounted in the expansion chamber wall, thereby to prevent burning out of the baffle.

3. In oil heating apparatus, a dielectric conduit; a high frequency, oscillating, electric current conducting coil, connectible with a source of high frequency, alternating electric current, said coil being tubular and adapted to conduct hydrocarbon vapors, a connection between saidcoil and said di-electric conduit; and, Within the conduit, a series of spaced-apart, transverse, frequently apertured, baffles; the edges of the bales being insulated from the conduit Wall, thereby to prevent burning out of the baffles; said coil extending lengthwise of the conduit for establishment of an electro-magnetic field in which the baffles are located.

4. In oil heating apparatus, a dielectric conduit; a high frequency, oscillating, electric current conducting coil, connectible with a source of high frequency, alternating electric current; and, within the conduit a series of spaced-apart, transverse, frequently apertured, baies; the edges of the baffles being insulated from the conduit Wall, thereby to prevent burning out of the battles; said coil extending lengthwise of the conduit for establishment of an electro-magnetic field in which the bafes are located; said conduit having an oil vapor intake, and an oil vapor discharge opening into the conduit in said electro-magnetic field, thereby to permit expansion of the dis@ charged vapor in said eld adjacent said baiiles.

IRA WALTON HENRY. 

